Dead End

Dead End: Dodge Viper


Dead End is the first Decepticon Alternator, and is a repaint/remold of Alternator Side Swipe. Dead End is molded after a Dodge Viper SRT-10 model. The Side Swipe mold has been remolded into a hardtop Dodge Viper, with a rather large spoiler, which really gives the car a fast look and aggressive look. The color of the toy is mostly black, which fits in with the evil motif of the Decepticons. To breakup some of the black, the car also has two silver racing stripes blazing down the center of the vehicle. The windshield, as well as the rear window, is both made of translucent rose colored plastic. This rose color looks menacing, and looks better this way than if the plastic would have been a deep red.


This shot shows the front of the vehicle, and shows just how aggressive the front end of a Dodge Viper looks. The headlights, as well as the lights in the bumper are made of the same rose-colored plastic as the windows. Located on the front fascia, just in front of the hood, is the red Viper symbol.


This picture shows the rear of the vehicle mode. As you can see, the back of the Dodge Viper is just as aggressive looking as the front end. The taillights are made of the same translucent plastic as the headlights and windows. The car also includes a license plate with a Decepticon symbol in the center, and the letters “DEAD END” surround it.


Opening the hood will reveal the engine that powers this Dodge Viper. The engine has lots of chrome, as well as the word “Viper” on each side of the engine. Located Just in front of the engine is some copper coloring, which doesn’t really serve any purpose here, but it does dress up the engine compartment a little bit.


Opening the car door will reveal the detailed interior, which continues the black color scheme motif. As with the rest of the Alternators, some minor paint applications on the interior would greatly improve the realism of the vehicle mode. This shot also shows the reflective surface added to the aide mirrors.


A 19-step transformation will turn this great looking Dodge Viper into a robot mode. Dead End has a G1 Sunstreaker inspired head, so in terms of design, the robot mode might lead you to believe this toy to be an Autobot, but the color scheme says otherwise. The black color scheme from the vehicle mode continues in robot mode, and covers the majority of the body. To breakup some of the black, the arms are actually red, which looks really good against the black. The chest area has been designed for Dead End, and now has a silver plate with a Decepticon symbol on it. The legs, while mostly black in color, have some much needed paint detailing on them. The legs include applications of copper, silver, red and purple, which all fit in nicely with the black color scheme. The engine from vehicle mode becomes the gun for this figure, and can be held in either hand, which includes articulated fingers.


This picture shows a closer view of the upper body, as more specifically, the head. The head is colored black, while the face is painted copper. The eyes and the fins on the side of the head are painted red. The head can pass for a Decepticon, mostly because of the overall color scheme, but it would have been nice to see a more sinister expression on the face.

Dead End Rating: Dead End is the first Decepticon Alternator, although certainly not the last. While I wish that this toy were actually a brand new mold, the remolded parts of this toy make it seem vastly different from Side Swipe. Because of this, if you own Side Swipe, then there shouldn’t be any reason not to pick this toy up. Some people will be turned off by the car pieces hanging off the toy, like the doors hanging off the arms, the hood hanging down in the back, and the rear of the car hanging off the top of the back. If you can overlook this, then I suggest picking the toy up, if you can’t, you can still pick the toy up and display it in vehicle mode.
Pros:
*The toy looks fantastic in either mode and displays nicely
*Great articulation

Cons:
*Lack of paint applications on the dash leaves it looking a little blah
*G1 Sunstreaker inspired head is an odd choice for a Decepticon

I give the toy a A.